Leading renewal is hard.  It demands leading change when change is resisted.  It means working hard for those who will under-appreciate the investment.  Renewal leaders have to fight for unpopular causes, speak unpopular truth and …

What launches renewal in a congregation?  Jesus said fruitfulness is connected to abiding.  In John 15:5 he told his disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain [“menon” = “remain”, “abide”, …

Here we go again!  COVID-19 is skyrocketing.  Churches are again deciding whether they will go fully virtual rather than risk the health of their communities.   Most likely this challenge will continue for the next several …

The Gideon story from Judges 6-8 is among the best-loved Old Testament narratives.  After years of Midianite intimidation that has driven Israel into caves, God raises up an unlikely leader to beat back the oppressor.  …

What next?  That was the question my brother Larry [Rev. Larry Doornbos of Vibrant Congregations] and I asked a group of church leaders throughout a post-election debrief.  During the Zoom gathering participants collectively affirmed that …

If you live in the United States, today is election day.  Today’s election is, perhaps, the most fraught of any election in a half century or more.  No matter where a person stands on the …

The Center for Church Renewal is committed to helping churches live up to their full redemptive potential.  To arrive at that goal, every member must contribute their own time, treasure and talents to the accomplishment …

Church Renewal takes time. It takes time to pray, listen, learn, imagine, collaborate, coordinate, execute measure and refine. The time challenge has increased with Covid-19’s demands for new skills, new investments and new practices. In …

Every church has red, yellow and green light people.  Green-lighters are early adopters who eagerly embrace fresh ideas.  Yellow-lighters will experiment if thoughtful attention has been given to the potential downsides of a proposal.  Red-lighters, …